When God saw their actions--that they had turned from their evil ways--He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them. When God saw their actionsThis phrase highlights God's omniscience and His responsiveness to human behavior. In the context of Jonah, the people of Nineveh demonstrated genuine repentance through fasting and wearing sackcloth ( Jonah 3:5-6). This aligns with biblical principles found in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God promises to hear from heaven and heal the land if His people humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways. The actions of the Ninevites serve as a model of repentance that is not merely verbal but is demonstrated through tangible actions. that they had turned from their evil ways
The turning from evil ways signifies repentance, a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments. The Hebrew word for repentance, "teshuvah," implies a complete turning away from sin and returning to God. This is echoed in the New Testament with the Greek word "metanoia," meaning a change of mind and heart. The Ninevites' repentance is significant because it shows that even a pagan city can respond to God's call, emphasizing God's mercy and desire for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He relented from the disaster
God's relenting from disaster demonstrates His mercy and compassion. This is consistent with His character as described in Exodus 34:6-7, where He is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." The concept of God relenting is also seen in Jeremiah 18:7-8, where God states that if a nation turns from its evil, He will relent concerning the calamity He planned to bring. This shows that God's judgments are not arbitrary but are contingent upon human response. He had threatened to bring upon them
The threat of disaster was a warning intended to lead to repentance. In the prophetic tradition, warnings of judgment often serve as calls to repentance, as seen in the ministries of prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. The fact that God threatened disaster but did not carry it out upon their repentance underscores His justice and mercy. It also foreshadows the ultimate deliverance from judgment through Jesus Christ, who bore the penalty for sin, offering salvation to all who repent and believe (John 3:16-17). Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe sovereign Creator who is compassionate and merciful, willing to relent from sending calamity when people repent. 2. NinevitesThe inhabitants of Nineveh, a great city known for its wickedness, who responded to Jonah's message with repentance. 3. JonahA prophet of God who initially resisted God's call to preach to Nineveh but eventually obeyed and delivered God's message. 4. NinevehThe capital city of Assyria, known for its size and wickedness, which repented at Jonah's preaching. 5. RepentanceThe act of turning away from sin and evil, demonstrated by the Ninevites in response to Jonah's warning. Teaching Points God's Mercy and CompassionGod is willing to forgive and show mercy when people genuinely repent. His character is consistent throughout Scripture, emphasizing His desire for restoration rather than destruction. The Power of RepentanceTrue repentance involves a change of heart and actions. The Ninevites' response demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace if they turn from their evil ways. Obedience to God's CallJonah's eventual obedience led to a city-wide revival. Our willingness to follow God's direction can have significant impacts on others. God's Sovereignty and JusticeWhile God is just and must address sin, He is also sovereign and can choose to relent from judgment when there is genuine repentance. The Role of Prophets and MessengersJonah's role as a prophet highlights the importance of delivering God's message, even when it is challenging. God uses His messengers to bring about change and repentance. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jonah 3:10 illustrate the character of God, and how can this understanding impact our view of His justice and mercy? 2. In what ways does the repentance of Nineveh challenge our perceptions of who can receive God's grace? 3. How can we apply the concept of repentance in our daily lives, and what actions might demonstrate genuine repentance? 4. What lessons can we learn from Jonah's initial reluctance and eventual obedience in fulfilling God's call? 5. How do the events in Jonah 3:10 connect with the broader biblical account of redemption and God's desire for all to come to repentance? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 6:5-6God's grief over human wickedness before the flood, contrasting with His mercy in Jonah 3:10. Exodus 32:14God relenting from disaster after Moses intercedes for Israel, showing a pattern of divine mercy. Jeremiah 18:7-8God's declaration that He will relent from disaster if a nation repents, directly paralleling the events in Nineveh. Luke 15:7The joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, reflecting God's delight in Nineveh's repentance. 2 Peter 3:9God's patience and desire for all to come to repentance, aligning with His actions in Jonah 3:10. People JonahPlaces Joppa, NinevehTopics Bring, Calamity, Changed, Compassion, Declared, Deeds, Destruction, Didn't, Disaster, Evil, God's, Purpose, Relented, Repented, Repenteth, Spake, Threatened, Wicked, WorksDictionary of Bible Themes Jonah 3:10 1160 God, unchangeable
1210 God, human descriptions
1310 God, as judge
5917 plans
6734 repentance, importance
8330 receptiveness
8459 perseverance
8468 renunciation
8738 evil, victory over
8833 threats Jonah 3:1-10 1055 God, grace and mercy
5426 news
7757 preaching, effects
8479 self-examination, examples Jonah 3:3-10 5345 influence Jonah 3:4-10 6027 sin, remedy for Jonah 3:5-10 6629 conversion, examples
6740 returning to God Jonah 3:6-10 1120 God, repentance of Jonah 3:9-10 5036 mind, of God Library Threefold Repentance
'And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2. Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 4. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall he overthrown. 5. So the people of Ninoveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureWho Can Tell?
With this by way of preface, I shall now somewhat turn aside from the narrative, to address myself to those who are trembling on account of sin and who are in the same position as the men of Nineveh, and like them anxiously desiring mercy. I shall notice briefly this morning three things. First, the miserable plight in which the men of Nineveh found themselves; secondly, the scanty reasons which they had for hope; and then, thirdly, I shall observe that we have stronger reasons to compel us to pray, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 Of the Public Fast.
A public fast is when, by the authority of the magistrate (Jonah iii. 7; 2 Chron. xx. 3; Ezra viii. 21), either the whole church within his dominion, or some special congregation, whom it concerneth, assemble themselves together, to perform the fore-mentioned duties of humiliation; either for the removing of some public calamity threatened or already inflicted upon them, as the sword, invasion, famine, pestilence, or other fearful sickness (1 Sam. vii. 5, 6; Joel ii. 15; 2 Chron. xx.; Jonah iii. …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Whether it is Lawful for Religious to Wear Coarser Clothes than Others?
Objection 1: It would seem unlawful for religious to wear coarser clothes than others. For according to the Apostle (1 Thess. 5:22) we ought to "refrain from all appearance of evil." Now coarseness of clothes has an appearance of evil; for our Lord said (Mat. 7:15): "Beware of false prophets who come to you in the clothing of sheep": and a gloss on Apoc. 6:8, "Behold a pale horse," says: "The devil finding that he cannot succeed, neither by outward afflictions nor by manifest heresies, sends in advance …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether Things Known or Declared Prophetically Can be False?
Objection 1: It would seem that things known or declared prophetically can be false. For prophecy is about future contingencies, as stated above (A[3] ). Now future contingencies may possibly not happen; else they would happen of necessity. Therefore the matter of prophecy can be false. Objection 2: Further, Isaias prophesied to Ezechias saying (Is. 38:1): "Take order with thy house, for thou shalt surely die, and shalt not live," and yet fifteen years were added to his life (4 Kings 20:6). Again …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether all are Bound to Keep the Fasts of the Church?
Objection 1: It would seem that all are bound to keep the fasts of the Church. For the commandments of the Church are binding even as the commandments of God, according to Lk. 10:16, "He that heareth you heareth Me." Now all are bound to keep the commandments of God. Therefore in like manner all are bound to keep the fasts appointed by the Church. Objection 2: Further, children especially are seemingly not exempt from fasting, on account of their age: for it is written (Joel 2:15): "Sanctify a fast," …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Concerning the Sacrament of Penance
In this third part I shall speak of the sacrament of penance. By the tracts and disputations which I have published on this subject I have given offence to very many, and have amply expressed my own opinions. I must now briefly repeat these statements, in order to unveil the tyranny which attacks us on this point as unsparingly as in the sacrament of the bread. In these two sacraments gain and lucre find a place, and therefore the avarice of the shepherds has raged to an incredible extent against …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence.
Sections. 1. Summary of the doctrine of Divine Providence. 1. It embraces the future and the past. 2. It works by means, without means, and against means. 3. Mankind, and particularly the Church, the object of special care. 4. The mode of administration usually secret, but always just. This last point more fully considered. 2. The profane denial that the world is governed by the secret counsel of God, refuted by passages of Scripture. Salutary counsel. 3. This doctrine, as to the secret counsel of …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 7 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: And thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:16-18. 1. It has been the endeavour of Satan, from the beginning of the world, …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. Regeneration. D. Justification. E. Adoption. F. Sanctification. G. Prayer.
THE DOCTRINES OF SALVATION. A. REPENTANCE. I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE. II. THE NATURE OF REPENTANCE. 1. AS TOUCHING THE INTELLECT. 2. AFFECTING THE EMOTIONS. 3. WILL. a) Confess Sin. b) Forsake Sin. c) Turn to God. III. HOW REPENTANCE IS PRODUCED. 1. DIVINE SIDE. 2. HUMAN SIDE. 3. QUESTION OF MEANS. IV. RESULTS OF REPENTANCE. 1. GODWARD. 2. MANWARD. A. REPENTANCE. I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE. The prominence given to the doctrine of Repentance in the Scriptures can hardly be overestimated. …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Unchangeableness of God
The next attribute is God's unchangeableness. I am Jehovah, I change not.' Mal 3:3. I. God is unchangeable in his nature. II. In his decree. I. Unchangeable in his nature. 1. There is no eclipse of his brightness. 2. No period put to his being. [1] No eclipse of his brightness. His essence shines with a fixed lustre. With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.' James 1:17. Thou art the same.' Psa 102:27. All created things are full of vicissitudes. Princes and emperors are subject to …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Jonah
The book of Jonah is, in some ways, the greatest in the Old Testament: there is no other which so bravely claims the whole world for the love of God, or presents its noble lessons with so winning or subtle an art. Jonah, a Hebrew prophet, is divinely commanded to preach to Nineveh, the capital of the great Assyrian empire of his day. To escape the unwelcome task of preaching to a heathen people, he takes ship for the distant west, only to be overtaken by a storm, and thrown into the sea, when, by …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Jonah 3:10 NIVJonah 3:10 NLTJonah 3:10 ESVJonah 3:10 NASBJonah 3:10 KJV
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